Concrete forms



SePtf 10, 1957 w. M. CHANDLER p -rAL v2,805,462

CONCRETE FORMS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 5. 1954- i mi Sept. 10, 1957w. M. CHANDLER ETAL CONCRETE FORMS Filed June 3. 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2hv'arlzew w. M. CHANDLER Erm. 2,805,462

CONCRETE FORI-JIS Sept. 1o, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 3. 1954SePt- 10, 1957 w. M. CHANDLER Erm. v 2,805,462 A CONCRETE FORMS 5Sheets-Sheet 4 June 3' V d H Z w. M. CHANDLER ETAL 2,805,462 K sept. 10,1957 CONCRETE FORMS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 3. 1954 United StatesCNCRETE FORMS Wesley Miles Chandler, Paul Fred Heuser, and Kenneth CarlSmith, St. Baul, Minn., assignors to Wilbert W. Y Haase Co., ForestPark, lll., a corporation of illinois Application June 3, 1954, SerialNo. 434,252 7 Claims. (Cl. 25-130) This invention relates to forms and,more particularly, of the type particularly well adapted for moldingburial vaults, septic tanks, hollow blocks, and the like.

It will be understood that reference hereinafter to burial vaults, andthe like, is merely by way of illustration and not by way of limitationand that forms embodying the principles of our invention may beconstructed and used for forming other articles without departing fromthe purview of our invention.

A primary object of our invention is to afford a novel form which may bereleased from the finished burial vault, lor the like, in a novel andexpeditious manner.

Another object of our invention is to enable a form of theaforementioned type to be constructed which embodies a novel core whichmay be loosened from the linished burial vault, or the like, in a noveland expeditious manner.

Yet another object of our invention is to enable a core of a burialvault form, or the like, to be shrunk in length and width in a novel andexpeditious manner.

A further object of our invention is to enable portions of the core of aform to be readily moved relative to each other in a manner effective toloosen the core from the finished burial vault, or the like, in a novelmanner.

. Another object is to enable a core of the aforementioned type to beconstructed in such a manner that vari- .ous portions thereof may bemoved vertically and laterally and longitudinally relative to each otherto thereby vary the size of the core in a novel and expeditious manner.

Another object of our invention is to afford a form of theaforementioned type wherein the core thereof may be quickly and easilyreleased from the finished burial vault, or the like, and may then bequickly and easily restored to operative position, in a novel andexpeditious manner, for repeated use.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description andclaims and are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show preferredembodiments of the present invention and the principles thereof and whatwe now consider to be the best mode in which we have contemplatedapplying these principles. Other embodiments of the inventions embodyingthe same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes maybe made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing fromthe present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through a burial vaultform embodying the principles of our invention and showing the corethereof in side elevation with certain portions broken away to show theinternal construction thereof; I

Fig. 2 is a detailV sectional view taken substantially along the line2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view somewhat similar to Fig. l

2,805,462 Patented Sept. 10, 1957 but showing the parts thereof disposedin different operative position.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 inFig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 inFig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 6 6 inFig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 7-7 inFig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8in Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-9in Fig. 7.

For the purpose of illustrating the preferred embodiment of ourinvention, a form 20 is shown in Figs. l to 9, inclusive, of the typeadapted to mold a suitable receptacle such as, for example, the boxportion V of a burial vault.

The form 20 comprises, in general, Figs. l and 4, an inner housing orcore C mounted on a supporting member or base B, and a suitable outerhousing or shell, such as the housing H, mounted on the base B over thecore C to thereby form a mold for forming a box V.

In general, during the operation of the form 20, the core C is mountedin operative position on the base B, and the housing H is mounted on thebase B outwardly of the core C and in spaced parallel relation thereto.The material from which the box V is to be formed may then be pouredinto the space between the core C and the housing H. After the materialfrom which the box V is formed is suitably hardened the box V may thenbe raised off from the core C, removal of the core C from the box Vbeing facilitated by novel means embodied in our invention, as will bediscussed in greater detail presently. During this operation of raisingthe box V the outer housing H is allowed to remain in position on thebox V to facilitate gripping and handling the assembly.

The base B, Figs. 1 and 5, comprises a substantially rectangular shapedframe embodying two end members 22 and 23, Fig. l, and two side members24 and 25, Fig. 5. Suitable braces such as transversely extending braces27 and 28, and longitudinally extending braces 29, Figs. 3 and 5, aredisposed between the members 22--25 of the base B for strengthening andre-enforcing the base Bl The members 22-25 and braces 27-29 arepreferably formed of channel shaped steel structural members anddisposed in inverted position with the web thereof disposed in upwardlyfacing, substantially horizontal position.

Four pairs of elongated retaining members or braces 31 and 32, 33 and34, 35 and 36, and 37 and 38, respectively, are mounted on the topsurface of the members 22-25, respectively, with each of the pairs ofbraces 31-38 disposed in longitudinally extending position on therespective side members 22-25 in spaced parallel relation to each other.rllhe braces 31, 34, 3S and 38 are the outwardly disposed braces of theVrespective pairs, and the braces 32, 33, 36 and 37 are the inwardlydisposed braces thereof.

The braces 31-33 may be made of any suitable material, but we prefer tomake them of angle iron, each having an upwardly projecting leg 41 and ahorizontally disposed leg 42, the latter leg 42 being mounted on the topsurface of the respective side member 22-25 and being secured thereto byany suitable means such as welding.

Guide members 44 are mounted on the top surface of each of the sidemembers 22-25 in spaced relation to each other along the inner braces,32, 33, 36 and 37, Figs. 1, 2 and 6. Each of the guide members 44cornprises a substantially vertical leg 46, Fig. 2, and a down- W'll'yand lfWTdlY 'Sloplg leg 48, the Vertical leg being secured to the innerlperipheral edge of the respectiye side member A22-26 and the leg 48sloping downwardly and outwardly from 'the upper end of the leg 46 intovengagement with the upper edge of the verti'calrllan'ge 41 on therespective corresponding braces 32, 33, 3 6` and 37 to thereby aiordmeans for guiding the core "C downinto operative positionja'round theVinner braces 32, 33,36 andj37 when the core C is being mount- 'd'in'operative position on 'the 'base B.

VThe coreY C, Figs. l and 5, comprises two substantially verticallydisposed end walls 4v51 and 52 and two substantially vertically disposedside walls 53- and 54. Each ofthe walls 5'1-54 hasV 'an inwardlyprojecting ilange 5 6 disposed on the upper end thereof, and asubstantially flat rectangular-'shaped removable cover member or topplate 5 8 loosely rests on the flanges 56. The top plate 58 ispreferably ofjsuchsize that 'the outer edges thereof are disposed' justinwardly -of vertical alignment with the outer faces `ofthe,corresponding walls 51-54 of the core C when the core Cis disposed inoperative position on the base B for the reception of vault or boxforming material therearound. The Walls 51-54 and the top plate 58 ofthe 'core C may be made of any suitable material such as, for examplesheet steel. f

Re-enforcing members in the form of angle irons 61 and 62 are attachedto the inner faces of the side walls 5,3 and 5'4, respectively, bysuitable means such as welding and extend longitudinally along the sidewalls 53 and 54 in substantially parallel relation to each other and tothe bottom edges of the side walls 53 and 54 in spaced relation to thelatter. Similar other re-enforcing members 64, Figs. l, 5 and 7 may'also be mounted at other locations on the inner Aface of the side walls51-54 of the 'core C, as clesired, tore-enforce the latter.

Two posts 66 and 67, Figs. 4 and 7, are mounted on opposite end portionsof the cross member 27 and project upwardly and inwardly therefrom. Theupper end portions ofthe p'osts 66 and 67 are braced in such 'inwardlyprojecting 'positionby a suitable elongated brace member 68 'extendingtherebetween, Fig. 7. Similarly, two posts 71 and 72 are mountedonopposite end portions of the cross brace zsof' the base B and arebraced at their upper end' Vportions by a bracing member 73 extendingtherebetween, Fig. 4.

Four pawls, 75, 76, 77 and 78 at 'their lower end portions to the lowerend portions of the posts 66, 67, 7 1 and`72, respectively, by suitablemeanssuch as bolts 81, Figs. 4 and 7. Each of the pawls 75;?8 lhasanupwardly "facing, outwardly projecting ear 75o, 76a, 77`a and' 78a,respectively, disposed at its upper 'end portion, Figs. 4 and 7.

Two sleeves 83 vand 84, Pigs. V1, '4 and 7, are mounted on and projectupwardly from the longitudinal center portions vof `the cross braces 27and 28, respectively. Two ysha'ft's 86 and 87 `are journalled in thesleeves 83 'and 84, respectively, and two disks 89 and 90 are mounted onthe upper end portions of the shafts 86 and 87 for rotating Vmovementrelative to the sleeves 83 and 84. The lower end portions of the shaft86 projects downwardly below the sleeve 83 and a handle 92 is connectedto the lower end portion of the shaft 86 and projects outwardly from thebase B to afford readily accessible means for manually rotating theshaft 86 from a position. outwardly of the base B. The disks 89 and 9'0'are operatively connected together by a link 94 extending 'therebetweenso that rotation of the disk 89 is elec'tive to rotate the disk 90. Theupper end portions of thepawls 75 andV 76 'are connected to the disk89by suitable links, 96 and 97, Figs. 4 and 7 so that oscillation 'ofthefdisk 891 is effective4 to-move theupper end portions ot'- t-heypawls 76 and `7'6 inwardly 'and outwardly 'around the pivots 81,.,Likewise, the upper endy portions of the pawls 77 and-lS-,fare connectedtothe disk 9 0by suitableVY are pivotally mounted links 98 and 99,respectively, so that the pawls 77 and 78 are 'Siilily 'aflltel 'pbloscillation of 'the "disk '90. A spring 101 is connected at'jone end tothe handle 92 and at the other end to the cross brace 29 in position tourge the handle 92 and, therefore, the shaft 86, to rotate in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, and thereby urge theupper end portions of pawls -78 outwardly toward the adjacent wall 53 or54 of the core C.

In normal position, the ears 75a-78a on the pawls 75-78 are -disposed'inoverlying spaced relation to -the bracing members 61 and 62, theears-75a and 77a being disposed above the bracing member. 61 and theears 76a and 78a being disposed above the bracing member 62. When thecore C is Vlifted upwardly inthe vault forming operation of our n'ovelform 20, as will be discussed in greater detail presently, the bracingmembers 61 and 62 engage the lower portions of the ears 75a and 77a, andthe ears 76a and 78a, respectively, and cam the pawls 7`S78 inwardlyagainst the urging of the spring 101. When the bracing members 61 and 62move upwardly past the upper vffaces of 'the Vears 7S'a-78t1, the spring-1,01 is effective Vvto move 'the pawls 75h78 outwardly into positionwherein 'the ears '-75tz-78a are disposed beneath the bracing members651- and 62e in position to support `the core C 1in elevated position.When it is desired to again lower the core C from this'upwardlysupported position,

the handle 92y may be manually rotated in a clockwisedirection, asviewed in Fig. 4, against the urging of the spring 101 -t'o therebyAretract the pawls 75-78 and permit the Acore `C to drop downwardly onto the baseY B, the guide members 44 serving to guide the core `C intoproper position on the Abase B.

Each of the walls 51-54 of the core C is transversely split-from top tobottom along a line 103, 104, 105 'and 106, respectively, Figs. 1 and 6,which are disposed at acute angles-to the horizon-tal. Thus 'it will beseen that the core C fis divided along the lines 103-'4106 into fourcorner section's108, 109, 110 and 1111, Fig. A4, the corner section 108comprising the portion of the end wall 5,1

and the 4side wall 53 disposed between the lines 103 and 10:5; Athecorner portion 109 comprising the portionof the side wall 531'and-theend wall S2 ldisposed between 'the lines ,105- and i104; Vthe VcornerVsectionV 110 comprising the portion of 'the-end Wall 552 Vand thesidewall 54 disposed betweenthe lines 104 and 106; and the cornersection111 comprising the port-ionY of the 'side Wall 54 and the 'endv wall'51disposed between the lines 106 and 103. Thus it will be seen aredisposedI diagonally opposite to each other, are considerably shorter inVlengthithan v'are the corner sections 109 and 1.11, which are,likewise, disposed diagonally opposite to eachother. .In the operationof our novel form .20, the comer sections Y108 and V1.10 are moveddownwardly relative to the corner sections 109 and 1.1.1. along thepairsofflines 103 and'105, and 104'an'd A106, respectively, tofacilitateremoval of the core C from a burial vault, or` the like, whichhas been molded there.- around, a's will be discussed in Vgreater detailhereinafter.

It will-be noted that; the rlines 103 and 105 are disposed in theendwall 51 andtheside wall V53, respectively, in

position wherein the upper end portions of the lines 103' and 105`arevdisposed in proximity to, but'inspaced relation to, the junctionbetween the walls 51 and 5,3 and lines `103 and 105, slant downwardlyand voutwardly away from the junction ofthewalls51 and 53. The lines 104and A106 are similarly located relative to the junction between the endwall 52 and the side wall 54, the upper end portions of the `lines 104and 1,06 being disposed relatively close to the junction between thewalls 52 and S4 and sloping downwardly vand outwardly therefrom 'to thebottomfofthe waits szjand 54.

4In practice, we prefer that fthe linesv103 'and A105Y be disposed equaldistances from, and at the same -diverging angle to, the junction 4ofthe yend vwa-ll 51 yand the side wall 53, and that the lines '104 'and106 be similarly 75 positioned relative vto the .junction of the endwall 52 that the corner sections 108 land 110, which and the side Wall54. In any event, so as to avoid tilting or canting of the cornersections 108-111 relative to each other upon movement of the sections108 and 110 downwardly relative to the sections 109 and 111, the lines103 and 104 should be disposed at equal but oppositely opening acuteangles to the horizontal, and the lines 105 and 106 should, likewise, bedisposed at equal but oppositely opening acute angles to the horizontal.

Four elongated track members 113, 114, 115 and 116 made of suitablematerial such as, for example, strap steel are mounted on the innerfaces of the walls 51-54 of the core C in parallel overlying relation tothe lines 103-106, respectively. Each of the tracks 113-116 is attachedat its upper and lower ends to elongated spacing straps 11811 and 11811,respectively, Figs. 6, 7 and 9, and the spacing straps 11811 and 118bare attached to the upper and lower edge portions of the proper sidewalls 51-54 of the core C to thereby support the intermediate portion ofeach track 113--116, between the respective pair of straps 11811 and118b, in proper operative position over the respective lines 103-106 andin spaced relation to the adjacent portions of the side walls 51-54. Thetracks 113-116 are attached in this manner to the corner sections 108and 110, through their respective pairs of spacing straps 11811 and118b, with the track 113 being attached to the end wall 51 between theline 103 and the side wall 53; the track 114 being attached to the endwall 52 between the line 104 and the side wall 54; the track 115 beingattached to the side wall 53 between the lines 105 and the end wall 51;and the track 116 being attached to the side wall 54 between the line106 and the end wall 52.

Four elongated slides or carriages 123-126 are slidably mounted on thetracks 113-116, respectively, Figs. l, 4 and 5. Each of the slides123-126 has a substantially rectangular shaped opening extendinglongitudinally therethrough, Fig. 8, and the respective track 113-116 isdisposed therein in snugly iitting but freely slidable relation thereto.

Four elongated mounting strips 12311-12611 are disposed adjacent to theslides 123-126, respectively, and are secured thereto by suitable meanssuch as, for example, welding, Figs. 4, 7 and 8. Mounting strips12311-12611 are secured to the walls 51, 52, 53 and 54, respectively,adjacent to the lines 103, 104, 105, and 106, respectively, butpreferably spaced from the latter sufciently that theslides 123-126 andthe tracks 113-116 may be disposed in such position that thelongitudinal center lines thereof are disposed in overlying parallelrelation to the lines 103-106, Figs. 4 and 5. The mounting strips12311-12611 are attached to the corner sections 109 and 111, with themounting strip 12311 being attached to the end wall 51 of the core Cbetween the line 103 and the side wall 54, Fig. 5; the mounting strip12411 being attached to the end wall 52 of the core C between the line104 and the side wall 53, Fig. 4; the mounting strip 12511 beingattached to the side wall 53 of the core C between the line 105 and theend wall 52; and the mounting strip 12611 being attached to the sidewall 54 of the core C between the line 106 and the end wall 51. It willbe noted that the upper and lower ends of the mounting strips12311-12611 terminate substantially flush with the upper and lower edgesof the respective side walls 51-54 to which they are attached, and thatthe slides 123-126 are attached to thelongitudinal center portions ofthe mounting strips 12311-12611 in spaced relation to the outer ends ofthe latter.

Two lifting members L1 and L2 are mounted in the core C adjacent to thecorner sections 108 and 110, rerespectively, Fig. 4. The lifting memberL1 may comprise a suitable uid motor such as a pneumatically orhydraulically operated jack embodying a substantially cylindrical shapedcasing or. housing 128 in which is mounted the usual piston or plunger129. Two inlet and outlet ports 131 and 132 are provided in the lowerand upper end portions of 'the' housing 128, respectively, 'so-thatsuitable working uid such as, for example, compressed air may be fedinto the cylinder 128 through the ports 131 or 132 to thereby causeraising or lowering of the plunger. 129 in the housing 128 in the usualmanner.y

The jack L1 is mounted in the cornersection 108 by suitable supportingmeans such as a bracket 134 attached at one side to the cylinder 128 andat the opposite side to the portions of the walls 51 and 53 disposedbetween the lines 103 and 105 by suitable means, such as, welding, Figs.4, 5 and 8. Working uid may be fed into the ports 131 and 132 throughany suitable means but we prefer to use flexible lines such as hoses 136and 137, Fig. 4 which extend outwardly from the ports 131 and 132,respectively, to coupling members 138 and 139 mounted on the outer faceof the side member 24 of the base B to facilitate coupling of suitablepressure supplying means such as, for example, an air compressor, notshown, to the lines 136 and 137.

The plunger 129 is connected to the slide 123 by an elongated link 143,Figs. 4 and 5, which is attached at itS. lower end to the slide 123 kbysuitable means such as a bolt 147 and is attached at its upper end tothe upper end portion of the plunger 129 by suitable means suchas a bolt148. The upper end portion of the plunger 129 is also attached to theslide 125 by a link 145 connected at its lower end to the slide 125 by abolt 149 and connected at its upper end to the upper end portion of theplunger 129 by the bolt 148, Figs. 4 and 5.

T he lifting member L2 is similar to the lifting member L1, comprising ahousing or casing 12811 and a plunger or piston 12911, the casing havingports 13111 and 13211 connected to the coupling members 138 and 139,respectively, by suitable lines such as hoses 13611 and 13711,respectively. The plunger 12911 is attached to the slide 124 by a link144 connected at its lower end portion to the slide 124 by a bolt 147aand connected at its upper end (portion to the upper end of the plunger12911 by a bolt 14811. Similarly, the plunger 12911 is connected to theslide 126 by a link 146, the lower end portion of the link 146 beingconnected to the slide 126 by a bolt 14911 and being connected to theupper end portion of the plunger 12911 by the bolt 14811.

Hence it will be seen that when working uid such as, for exmple,compressed air, is fed under pressure into the coupling member 138, theair tlows through the coupling member 138 through the line 136 and 13611and ports 131 and 13111 into the lower end portions of the housings 128and 12811 and is thereby effective to raise the plungers 129 and 12911,relative to the cylinders 128 and 12811, respectively. Also, it Will beseen that when air is fed under pressure through the coupling member 139it ows through the line 137 and 13711 and the ports 132 and 13211 intothe cylinder 128 and 12811 to thereby etect lowering of the plunger 129and 12911 relative to the cylinders 128 and 12811, respectively. Hence,it will be seen that with this arrangement, simultaneous raising andlowering of the plungers 129 and 12911 is etected by the introduction ofworking iuid under pressure into the coupling members 138 and 139,respectively.

t will be seen that with the parts of our novel core C disposed in themanner disclosed herein, raising and lowering of the plunger 129 and12911 in the cylinder 128 and 12811 is effective to cause oppositerelative longitudinal reciprocation of the slides 123 and 125 and thetracks 113 .and 115, and of the slides 124 and 126 and the tracks 114and 116, respectively, to thereby etect raising and lowering of the twocorner sections 109 and 111 and the two corner sections 108 and 110relative to each other along the diagonally extending lines 104 and 105,and 103 and 106, respectively, Fig. 3. Such relative movement of thecorner sections 109 and 111, and 108 and 110 is effective to shrink thecore C in a horizontal direction both laterally and longitudinally sothat when this operation is accomplished with the core C disposed in fafcompleted burial vault, 4or the like, :it-.is effective topositivelylmove the walls 51--54' of the core C entirely u'tofengagement with the Ycorresponding `adjacent :side Wllslof the fburia'lvault. V

Two guide rods =f1`an`d 152, Fig. l, are 'attached at their-upper endsto the lower face -of the top plate 58 offjthe core C lbyf suitablemeans suchV as, for example, Welding. The guide-rods 151'and. 152project downwardly from tthe top=platev58 and extend `into guide-sleeves151i: and v15221, respectively, which are mounted at their ilower endstoE'the.longitudinally extending brace 29 in the base fguide sleeves 1511iand :15211 vextend upwardly from thejbrace-29 and terminate 'attheirupper lend .portions in spaced Vrelation rto .the top .plate 58when the latter is disposed iin 'normal `opera/tive position on thewalls 51"-54 of the core-fC. Two chains 154 and 155 are'atta'ohed 4a-tone end to the lower face of the plate 58 adjacentto fthe guide rodsl'151 'and 1752, respectively, Fig. 1. The chains 154 and 155 dependfrom the plate 58 and are YVatt-ached at their other ends to the bracemembers 68;-73, respectively, Figs. l and 7. Chains 154 rand-'155Y1'a'reof such length that when the top plate 58 lis disposed i'nl normalposition on the walls 51-54 of the 'eore C -a suitable amount of slacklis alorded therein lso that the chains 1754 and 155 hang loosely fromthe ltop plate 58, Fig. l. However, the chains 154 and 155 are of-sulliciently short length to insure that the tppla'te 58 rna'y not beraised from the walls 51-54 a suicient distance to pull the guide rods151 and 152 from the sleeves 151a and '152a so that, when the vault Vfis lifted fro'm the core C the chains 154 and 155 are eeotive-to pullthe top plate 58fout of engagement with the top wall of the vault V andthereby permit it to drop back rdownwardly on the flanges A5'6' of thewalls 51-54 of the core C, the guide rods -151Ya-nd 152 being effectivetoproperly :guide the top plate 58 `during this downward movement of the'lat-ter.

From. the foregoing, Vit will be seen that i-n the operation 'of a formembodying our novel invention, the core C lr'na'y be` mounted on 'asuit-able base such as the base B 2in normal operative position such asshown in Fig. l wherein the plunger 129 and 129:1 are in retractedposition and the upper edges of the walls 51-54 lie in the sainehorizontal plane, with the top plate 58 disposed on the hail-ges 56thereof. A suitable outer shell or housing such as the housing H :maythen be mounted in operative position outwardly of the core C inposition to define, with the E"core `C an area into which material forforming a receptacle "such as the box V of .a burial vault may bepoured. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, any suitabletype of outer shell such as, for example, the ltype of outer shell shownfin the United States Letters Patent No. 2,616,146, issued November 4,1952 to Wilbert Haase, may be used and that ourinvention vis not limitedto the particular .form of outer shell H shown inthe drawings, -thisshell being shown merely for purposes of illustration.

The vault-forming material may then be poured through the opening -171in the top of the housing H, Figs. 1 and 3, ,into the space betweenthehousing H and the 'core C and, after the material is suitablyhardened, the outer shell H, the vault V and the core C, may be raisedupwardly from the base B into position wherein the ears 75a-78a on thepawls l75-78 engage beneath the r'e-enforcing members 61 and 62 inposition to effectively support the outer shell H, theV vault V, thecore C in 'such raised position.V Such raising of the shell H, vaultV V,and core C, may be accomplished by anysuitablefrnean's such as forexample, a hoist, not shown, suitably engaged with 'the outer shell Hvsuch as, for example, byfbeing connected to the 'trunnions 157 and 158projecting outwardly .from the opposite end walls of the housing-1H,Fig. l.

Afterthe shell H, the box V and the core C have been raised to thisposition, a suitablesource of working uid such as, for example,'an `aircompressor, maybe con. nected to the coupling member 13.8.to therebyfeed com. pressed air through the hoses 1-36 and 136a into 'the lowerends of the cylinders 128.and 128:1 and effect out ward movement of theplungers 129. land 129a Vand the cylinders 128 and 128:2 relative toeach other.

During this actuation of 'the lifting units L1 andrLZ, the core C, box Vand housing H are supported inupwardly spaced vrelation to the base B bylthe -pawls V'75L-"'78 which are engaged vwith braces '61 and 155..disposed on the portions of the side walls 53 and y54 whichfare embodiedin the corner sec/tionsV 109 and 1;11. The weight of the box V and thehousing H isvsulic'i'entto. maintain the braces 61 andj'62 in suchengagement with 'the pawls -78 so that the vcorner sections 109 andv1=11 of thev coreCare not raised 'bye the actuation` ofthe lifting unitsL1 and L2. Hence, f'su'ch actuation 'of' the lifting lunits L1 and L2moves the cylinders 128 'and 128a downwardly along the pistons i129' and129er,` and this is effective to move the Icorner 'setions 108 and 110downwardly relative to lthe corner sections 109 and V1`1-1'andthe top.plate 5S into a position such` as -shown in `Fig. 3. During'thisdownward movement'of "the cornersections 108 and 110, thedownv'vardl movement off the tracks 1-13--116 is effective -to cam theslides 123 and -125 inwardly towardV each other,V and the slides 124 and126 Ainwardly toward each other, 'to thereby maintain the cornersections 108- 111V in abutting relation to each other. Thus it will beseen that `-'the `'corner sections 108-11'1 are moved in apositivemanner horizontally toward each other so that the core C is y'caused toshrink -both laterally and 1ongi -tudinally in a horizontal directionand the walls 51--5'4 are pulled inwardly ou't of'engagemen't with therespective adjacent walls ofthe box V. Y

Thereafter, the 'box V 'may be lifted from the core C by lifting at the-trunnions l157 and 158 on the outer shell by suitable means `such 'as ahoist, -not shown, and the outer shell H with the [box V disposedtherein may Ybe thus raised from the core C. During this llifting-of thebox V from the core C, the top plate 58 of the core C normally adherestothe 'adjacent wall of thebox V and is raised therewith tothe positionwherein the "slack in the chains 1'5'4and 1'55'i's taken up and thechains 154 and tighten to thereby pull the top pla/te 58 fromitsengagement with the adjacent wall of the box V Ito 'thereby permit thetop plate 58 to fall downwardly into position on the llange 56 on theupper edges fof-'the Walls 5-1-54 of the core C, vthe guide rods A15,1and 152, through their engagement in the guide sleeves, 155141 and 152g,guiding the :top plate 58 in `this 'downward movement to thereby insureproper positioning -of the top plate '58 relative to the walls 51.-'54and to the base B, v

The outer shell and the box V `may then be raised completely o'l lfromthe core C and the box V removed from the outer shell bydis'a"ss'einbling the walls of the shell H; The lcore C may then bequickly and easily returned to its normal vault forming position byapplying air pressure through the coupling member 139 and thus raisingthe cylinders 12'8fai1d 128e and 'raising the corner sections 108'and110I backV i-hto normal operating position relative to the cornersections 109 and V111 wherein the upper edge portions of--the wallsv51:-54 arev disposed in substantially the 'saine horizontal plane. Thehandle '9,2 may thenbe manually pulled from outside the base. B to`thereby Lpull the pawls Vinwardly out of'v engagement with the braces 61and 62 and permit the core C to drop back down into normal operatingposition on the rails 22-2'5 of the base B. Ihe outer shell H may thenagain be assembled. on the base B around the core C and the vform .'20vis again. operable .to receive vault forming material for the purposevof forming another vault.

VFromthe -foregoing,it will be seen that we haveaffofrded a novel formwhich is quickly and easily removed from a receptacle suchl as the boxof a burial'v'ault.

Also, it will be seen that we have provided a novel form embodying acore which is constructed and is operable in a novel and expeditiousmanner.

ln addition, it will be seen that we have afforded a novel form which isparticularly effective and eiiicient in operation and may beeconomically produced commercially.

Thus, while we have illustrated and described the preferred embodimentof our invention, it is to be understood that this is capable ofvariation and modilication, and we therefore do not wish to be limitedto the precise details set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of suchchanges and alterations as fall within the purview of the followingclaims.

We claim: v

1. A form for molding burial vaults, and the like, comprising a base, anouter shell mounted on said base, and a core mounted on said baseinwardly of said outer shell in position to permit construction materialto be disposed between said shell and said core, said core comprising aplurality of corner sections, each of said corner sections comprisingportions of two adjoining substantially vertical side walls and beingdisposed in abutting relation to two of the other corner sections alonglines disposed at an acute angle to the horizontal in said side walls,elongated track members mounted on certain of said corner sections inparallel relation to said lines, slide members mounted on the other ofsaid corner sections and slidably mounted on said track members forreciprocation along the later, and means for reciprocating said trackmembers and said slide members relative to each other in such relationas to move adjacent corner sections relative to each other in oppositedirections along said lines.

2. A molding form comprising a base, a substantially rectangular-shapedcore comprising four upstanding wall sections disposed in end to endrelation to each other, said wall sections being separated from eachother along lines disposed at an acute angle to the horizontal, saidwall sections having a raised position and lowered position relative tosaid base, means for moving said wall sections from the lowered to theraised position, means on said base for supporting two of said wallsections in said raised position, actuating means, said actuating meanscomprising cylinder means connected to the other two of said wallsections, piston means reciprocably mounted in said cylinder means, saidpiston means being connected to said iirst mentioned wall sections, andmeans for moving said cylinder means downwardly relative to said pistonmeans when said iirst mentioned two wall sections are supported by saidsupporting means in said raised position to thereby move said other twowall sections downwardly along said lines relative to said rst mentionedtwo wall sections to thereby shrink said core longitudinally andlaterally, and means disposed outwardly of said core to form an outershell therearound.

3. In a form for molding burial vaults, and the like, of the characterincluding a base, and an outer shell mounted on said base, a coremounted on said base inwardly of said outer shell, said core comprisingupstanding walls disposed to define the outer edges of a horizontalsubstantially rectangular-shaped area, a substantially fiatrectangular-shaped cover member normally mounted on said walls, saidwalls being divided along four separation lines into four cornersections, said lines extending from the top to the bottom of said wallsat an acute angle to the horizontal, alternate ones of said lines beingdisposed at substantially the same acute angle to the horizontal, two ofsaid sections being spaced from each other by the other two of saidcorner sections, said other two sections being spaced from each other bysaid rst mentioned two sections, each of said rst mentioned two sectionsbeing det-ined by a respective pair of said lines, the two lines in eachof said pairs diverging from each other in the same geenral verticaldirection as the two lines in the other of said pairs, four elongatedtracks, each of said tracks being disposed adjacent to and insubstantially parallel relation to a respective one of said lines, eachof said tracks being attached to said corner section of said rst twomentioned corner sections a lateral edge of which said respective linedefines, slide members mounted on said tracks and attached to adjacentones of said other two corner sections, and means connected between saidtracks and said respective slide members thereon for reciprocating saidtracks and slide members relative to each other and thereby reciprocatesaid first mentioned two corner sections and said other two cornersections relative to each other.

4. The combination as dened in claim 3 and in which said means forreciprocating said tracks and slide member comprises a pair of tluidactuated piston and cylinder assemblies.

5. A form for making burial vaults, and the like, comprising a base, anouter shell mounted on said base in upstanding position thereon, a coremounted inwardly of said outer shell and comprising a plurality ofupstanding corner sections, and a top wall extending over said cornersections, said core having a raised position and a lowered positionrelative to said base, means connected to said corner sections formoving two of said sections downwardly relative to the remainder of saidsections when said core is disposed in said raised position, guide meansmounted on said base, means mounted on said top wall and engaged withsaid guide means for guiding said top wall relative to said two cornersections, and means for pulling said top wall toward said two cornersections.

6. A molding form comprising a base, a substantially rectangular-shapedcore comprising 'four upstanding wall sections disposed in end to endrelation to each other, said wall sections being separated from eachother along lines disposed at an acute angle to the horizontal, saidwall sections having a raised position and a lowered position relativeto said base, means for moving said wall sections from the lowered tothe raised position, means on said base for supporting two of said wallsections in said raised position, actuating means connected between saidtwo wall sections and the other wall sections for moving the latterdownwardly relative to said two wall sections when said two wallsections are supported by the supporting means in the raised position tothereby move said other wall sections downwardly along said linesrelative to said irst mentioned two wall sections to shrink said corelongitudinally and laterally, and means disposed outwardly of said coreto form an outer shell therearound.

7. The molding form as dened in claim 6 wherein said supporting meanscomprises a pair of posts pivotally connected to said base at theirlower ends and movable toward and away from said two wall sections,means for simultaneously moving said posts toward and away from theirrespective wall sections, said two wall sections each having an inwardlyprojecting element thereon and each of said posts being provided with anear for engaging under the respective projections on the two wallmembers to support the same in raised position.

References Cited n the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,024,646Muckey Apr. 30, 1912 1,134,543 McArthur Apr. 6, 1915 1,164,106 LerchDec. 14, 1915 1,292,203 Wolfe Jan. 2l, 1919 1,538,471 Copeman May 19,1925 2,442,516 Shriver June 1, 1948 2,593,465 Tourneau Apr. 22, 19522,733,495 Lucas Feb. 7, 1956

